Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-12-10
Bow Preacher.

In writing of Pascal Porter. aged
eleven wears, of Jefferson county, IN
diana. a writer in the Indianapolis
Wien not in the pulpit he is the most
ordinary of ordinary boys, possessing
nothing that would distinguish hl'n
from hundreds of other boys seen
throughout the country. In fact, ihe
CURSOR observer would place him be-
low the average OF Indiana boys.
While in a state ofrepose he is l%istless,
with d,l,!..ooking eyesa and expression
Ices corntenancr He walks with m
awkward, stumbling gait. not appear
inc TO notice those things Wllrh gep.
crnlly attract ttc al cni,oii "i boys OF
hi, age. Placed with ANY dozen hoVs
of his ncighborhood, and he would be
chosen out AS the stupid Ii of the lot,
Yet this awkward country boy, WIN
his shamb!ing gait, liSlless air and II
look. is one OF the wonders OF TINS cen
fury.
lie belongs TO that peculiar sect
known rs "Soul Slccpcrs." me o
,rinc that at the death of the body the
SOM went into sleep and remained III
,hot condition until the final "csurrec
tfon. when it would be united witlth(
body. obtained al carly foo'hol'
among the followers Of Christ. an
numbered among them many carhes
advocates. At one time its truth wa
affirmed from the Vatican, and occu
MED tie attention of more than one o
the great councils of the early churcl
II has bat few adlcrc,lt, III this co"n
try. and | know OF no place where
church organization is maintained bu
in jefferson county, in tins STATE II
thouuh there are several who preac
The belief. OF the church in Jeffrrso
county, Pascal Potter is the pastor,
: lie las recently delivered two !c
; tures in Mudison before large and c''
Il livatcd audiences one on temlerah'
and the other on the history and cha
d nrter .of the Jewish raae-that we
moryeIs. and won the unbonnded /"
plause of the audiences. Like his ST
mons. the lectures were models OF st'
)? diction and cloqucncc. while thnt
ID the Jewish race displayed an crudi'i'
~ that astoni,hc every one. Az 81
Of before, the language he uses Is that
one who has thought long and W.
~ and who has had the aid OF scholas
, training and extensive reading. N,
where does this boy get all TINS! i
Is has had no education, and has had
nc opportunity tor extensive r'a hing.
W. fact his chances for information IT.
reading have been vcr!. limited. e
re the sermons and lectures his, or
they the production of some mat
tn. and maguiiiccntlv developed mi
N; committed to memory by him! 1t
he pulling question. In thcir'..de.iv
tx. there arc no evidences OF mrlloriz'
by There is nothing mechanical about
delivery, as may be seen in lengthy.
citations by even the best %clocuiionl
.ces There is no pausing and hum
around for II "cue word" lhcre
no repetitions or skips, but the wi
mo is spoken deliberately and without
mi seeming slraining, but ms II The
self comprahenueu Inc ui' meaning :"
'orc the words he Uses and the thought
I'm which he gives uttcrance. IL thcy!
INV memorizcd, the boy is still a prod
and for there is not another one OF his !
and with as little training as--he
had, who can, week after week, con
lis. to memory and recite as perfectly
ao. long d%iscourscs. If they are com
,no ted. the words and ideas must II
he ines be beyond his comprchea
II and II one who has ever tried th'
pertinent knows how hard it is to
;" init aud recitc II thing they do no
or derstand. If they are original,
are nothing short Of Inspiration.
o.m;. thing is certain, they are not part
,',s q inal and part committed, for the
inal would show less thought AM
pure diction than the part comm
vet no such breaks arc found in ~
,nnr. mons or lectures. lie is modes
.a,is. backward, yet tho largest aud
san's xven of strangers, does not emu,
! and him. Taken in any way, Pascal
K;d. ter Is a %marvcl~-a puzzle.